The Second Archon War: Carmen Dei 13 (Patreon)

Carmen Dei 13: Where the Poppies Grow

Beta’d and Edited by The Grand Cogitator, Dr_Feelgood, and Philosophysics

Rubbing her forehead, Alexandria groaned and took a long drink from her cup of coffee. Next to her, Wyatt was nursing his own latte, which had so much sugar and milk in it that it basically wasn’t coffee. Legend was looking stunned, his own cup of coffee next to him, while Eidolon was taking a swig from his can of Red Bull. Doctor Mother was pinching the bridge of her nose, her glasses pushed up onto her forehead, while Contessa was gobbling down donut holes so fast she had powdered sugar smudged all over her nose and lips.

“That can’t seriously be what happened,” Alexandria said at last, looking up and raising a hand to beckon for the donuts, only to have Contessa pass her the box before she could even gesture. She took three and passed the box along to Wyatt, who silently popped several in his own mouth.

“We have multiple witnesses who confirm it, the security footage from the Dandelion’s Breeze, and every question I’ve asked has given me the same. Along with all the rules for Genius Invocation TCG,” Contessa said around a mouthful of donuts.

“Chew before you talk, dear,” Doctor Mother sighed, getting up. “I need another cup of-”

Contessa passed her a mug, along with two sweeteners and some non-dairy creamer.

“Yes, that. It’s too early for this,” Doctor Mother sighed, sitting back down and opening the packets.

Crushing his can of Red Bull, Eidolon tossed it into the trash can, then reached out his hand to the side, where another can materialized. “Why? That’s the real question. We’ve established the facts, but we don’t know the motivations or rationale for either Raiden or this Venti Luft.”

“I frankly can’t fathom what they’d be, and I think we’d just get more questions than answers,” Legend said with a shake of his head. Wyatt proffered the box, and Legend hesitated. “I really shouldn’t. Arthur and I are on a diet…”

“Well, you can stress eat like the rest of us or shut up. Besides, with your metabolism, you don’t need to diet,” Wyatt said with a shrug.

Conceding the point, Legend took four donut holes and cupped them in his hand, then passed the box over to Eidolon.

“I don’t eat that shit,” he growled, pulling out a protein bar and taking a bite. He chewed for a moment, swallowed, then said, “We have to get some answers. Especially where this Venti Luft came from and what his agenda is.”

“Promoting LGBT and minority rights and destroying the Gesellschaft,” Contessa said, and all heads snapped to her.

“Really?” Legend asked, a look of shock on his face. “You’re sure?”

“Well, not exactly. This is less from my power and more…a very educated guess?” Contessa sighed and wiped her hand on her pants absently, leaving a white streak of powdered sugar. “But Venti has gone out of his way to help a gay couple defend their bar against neo-nazis, and his two bandmates are a pair of lesbians who happen to be a Jew and a Romani. He’s the one who destroyed the Gesellschaft facility, there can be no doubt of that, and he seems to be actively recruiting for a new cape team called the Knights of Favonius.”

“Favonius…Favonius,” Doctor Mother muttered, typing one-handed on her computer. “That’s-”

“The Roman god of the West Wind, a type of butterfly, and the winner of the 1871 Epsom Derby,” Contessa supplied.

“The what?” Alexandria asked, frowning.

“Also called the Derby Stakes, or just the Derby, the Epsom Derby is a flat horse race open to 3-year-old horses that has run since-”

“Not relevant,” Eidolon said with a shake of his head. “I think the connection to the Roman Wind God is more relevant. I mean, he named himself ‘Winds’ in Latin, and breeze in German, and he has Wind powers. What’s his real name?”

“Uh, Barbados,” Contessa supplied. “I think.”

“You think? That’s not GOOD enough, Fortuna!” Eidolon snarled, making a cutting motion in the air with one hand. “You’re supposed to be the one that guides our path! We can’t keep going into this blind!”

“Why’d he name himself after an island?” Alexandria asked. “What’s that mean?”

“Bearded,” Contessa supplied. “But he doesn’t have one.”

“It’s as good as anything. Is he Portuguese? We’ll have to investigate,” Doctor Mother said, shaking her head slightly.

“Perhaps I could make some overtures,” Legend offered. “If he’s interested in promoting LBGTQ rights, we’d have some common ground.”

“We were investing in the Gesellschaft though,” Alexandria pointed out, which earned her a frown from Legend. “Don’t be like that, Keith. You agreed they were the right ones to back in Germany, and we’ve seen a lot of success from that program.”

“Yes, but I still don’t like that they turned out to be Nazis, Rebecca,” Legend said with a disgusted shake of his head. “If there is a superior alternative…”

“Peace and stability don’t trigger more capes,” Eidolon said with a disgusted snort. “You want to make everything sunshine and rainbows, you’re dooming the world and you know it.”

“Actually,” Contessa said, frowning as her brow furrowed in thought. “Japan has…hmmm…fewer first gen, but more second gen, and an increase in Vision Holders, plus there’s the second and now third gen parahumans…”

“Wait, are you saying these Vision Holders aren’t parahumans?” Alexandria demanded, feeling cold sweat form on her back. Everyone else had frozen, looks of sheer shock and horror on her faces.”

“Not certain yet, but Venti showed up when the Anemo Visions did so the correlation is strong,” Contessa said, still not focused on what she was saying. “Hmmm. Yes, if Germany did become like Japan…we’d see at least a 1.24% drop in total cape emergence, though I haven’t factored in the new Visions and we don’t know what the criteria for them is yet.”

“Wait, then…then Venti’s another Raiden,” Legend said, his eyes growing wide. “Is he…is he as powerful as-”

“Venti isn’t really a he, when they attacked the Gesellschaft facility she was a girl. She’s, um…not a hermaphrodite…”

“Genderfluid? Non-binary?” Legend asked excitedly, leaning forward, a broad grin on his face. “That’s great news! Look, it’s worth the 1.24% drop in-”

“NO!” Eidolon snarled, slamming a fist down on the table before him and rattling the coffee mugs. “Does that even factor in that Gesellschaft capes are nearly as strong as our best capes, or that their Agents are not connected to the threat, giving us a possible counter?!”

“Venti isn’t as strong as Raiden, but they’re stronger than…hmm…yes. Based on the demonstrated abilities, and a few guesses…he’s probably the fifth or sixth strongest being on the planet. Depending on how you rank Mushu,” Contessa said.

As Contessa was talking though, Legend rounded on Eidolon. “Oh come off it! Germany produces what, less than 100 capes a year? We’re looking at over a ten year period, no more than a dozen or so capes one way or the other! That’s well worth the stability and prosperity, not to mention we’re fighting against that vile-”

“And if those dozen capes have another Alexandria, another Legend, another ME?!” Eidolon said, pointing a finger right back at Legend. “We’re gambling with the fate of humanity across every existence! We’re going to have to break a few eggs to make this omelet!”

“And we’re the GOOD GUYS, David! You sound like the worst sort of Villain!” Legend said, standing up and slamming the table himself.

“I’ll be whatever I have to be to make sure that at the end of the day, we’re standing, and he’s not!” David barked back.

“BOYS!” Alexandria thundered, standing up herself. “Sit. DOWN!”

They both glared at her, but complied, both of them assuming tense postures as Eidolon hunched over the table and Legend flexed his hands in frustration.

“Contessa. What are the odds of getting Venti on our side if we support the Gesselschaft?” Alexandria asked, forcing herself to be calm. She knew what answer she wanted, but she wasn’t willing to sacrifice humanity because working with Nazis was repugnant. They’d be dealt with after the end of the world. Until then, they were by far the less evil alternative.

“So close to zero that I’d bore you by reciting all the zeros in front of the number,” Contessa said with a shake of her head. “He’s going to wipe them out. Not kill them, maybe, he showed remarkable restraint for someone so powerful. He could have killed All Father and the other Gesellschaft capes easily. But it’s them or him.”

“And how much better are our odds with Venti on our side than the Gesellschaft, even assuming they come up with a dozen more capes, one of which is at least as strong as their best or even better,” Alexandria asked as calmly as she could. Wyatte slipped his hand into hers and gave her a squeeze, and she closed her eyes as Contessa’s eyes darted back and forth and she muttered under her breath.

“I think…I think they’re at least 26.2% better with Venti on our side than not. And…and there’s a chance…Venti could take out an Endbringer as well,” Contessa admitted. “Depending on if they decide to target him or stay away.”

“We’re overdue for another one emerging according to the models,” Doctor Mother said, steepling her fingers. “What that would bring…who knows.”

“I’m going to Germany then,” Legend declared, fixing his gaze on Eidolon and daring him to gainsay that. “I’ll contact Vornehm since he was at this party, and see if we can arrange a meeting with Venti. I’ve never been able to sleep right, knowing we were backing monsters like the Gesellschaft. I think we’ll all feel better about ourselves.”

“I hope your do-gooding lets you sleep knowing you’re gambling with the fate of the fucking world,” Eidolon growled, reaching for his mask.

“But we don’t HAVE to sit down at the table with monsters!” Legend snarled, real anger on his face now. “We don’t have to BE monsters, David! We can be heroes! We can save the world!”

“Tell that to the fucking 53s. Maybe you would if they were gay,” Eidolon snapped, and stormed out of the room, pulling his mask on to his head.

Legend glared after him, fists clenched, nostrils flared. Wyatt leaned over and put a hand on his shoulder. “We know you care, Keith. So does David. We’re on the same side here.”

Letting out a long breath, Legend nodded. “Yes, I know. It’s just…maybe there is hope. Perhaps we actually can stop the end of the world, with a little help.”

“I’ll go after David,” Alexandria said, standing. “Unless there’s anything else?”

“No, I should get back to Bangladesh,” Contessa sighed. “After that, it’s off to Israel. Maybe I can figure out what a Teyvat is.”

“Teyvat?” Alexandria had to think for a moment on that one. “Oh, Raiden mentioned it. That and…what was the other one? Khan something?”

“Khaenri’ah, but what that means, not even my Path knows yet,” Contessa admitted. “Get after Keith, salve his pride. He’ll talk to you if you listen first.”

Nodding, Alexandria put on her own helmet then hurried out of the building. It didn’t take her long to find Eidolon, as he wasn’t exactly hiding. He was hovering over New York, all the way across the country, looking down on the memorial. He had his arms crossed over his chest, and he was brooding, though she also knew he was listening for any potential S Class threats that might appear. He could be anywhere in the country in a moment, which meant where he chose to wait for a chance to act didn’t really matter.

She floated beside him, looking down, thinking. New York had been their third battle against Behemoth. A battle that they had won, barely. It was called the battle of New York, but it had really been the Battle of Yonkers. That city no longer existed, and under the dome that Hero and the other Tinkers had constructed was still a radioactive nightmare. The devastation did go into the outskirts of New York City, but only just.

The monument itself depicted the Elite: Eidolon, Hero, Legend, and Alexandria herself, delivering the final blow to Behemoth as the Endbringer reeled back. The actual scene hadn’t been that pretty, and they hadn’t been grouped up like idiots, but the statue looked nice.

They floated together for long minutes until Eidolon spoke. “We’ve never beaten him. Not in nine years. We didn’t beat Leviathan in three battles either. And we haven’t beaten the Simurgh in either of her appearances. Davao and Madison are gone, now that we know what she does. How many more times?”

“As many as it takes,” Alexandria said quietly, feeling sick to her stomach. What had come out of Davao and Madison…it didn’t bear thinking of. She’d had to put down several friends, as they had yet to figure out how to truly fight the Simurgh, aside from overwhelming firepower. Even Alexandria had been close to breaking at some points.

“We were never able to defeat them, but…this blasphemer, this false god…” Eidolon clenched his fist so hard that the leather in his gloves creaked. “She kills one in her first outing and we fall at her feet. Then there’s this other one we know nothing about, and we compromise the plan for him? It’s foolishness. Pure idiocy.”

“Raiden has always had the potential to be a powerful ally. The Kill Order on her was my greatest mistake,” Alexandria said, shaking her head and grimacing. “I let myself be ruled by fear then. I can’t be blinded a second time.”

“Fear?” Eidolon turned, the glow around his costume flickering in the afternoon sun. “We need that fear. If not for the fear, the world would turn on us and eat itself alive before the end of the world arrives. This… This fear will keep us strong, test us, prepare us. We need that fear so that we’re willing to do what we have to. We’ve seen what happens when we relax our guard for even a moment.”

“Perhaps. But that simply means we should pick our allies better. The Gesellschaft-”

“Are tried and true in their ability to produce quality capes. All Father. Kaiser. Red Lotus. Fuhrer. And don’t forget: Our hands are not clean there. We gave them those vials. Set them on the course to make their own. If Venti dismantles them, we’re at risk. Our entire plan could be exposed. All to gamble on an unknown just because he likes faggots more than-”

“David!” Alexandria barked, floating right up into his face. “Get ahold of yourself! This isn’t like you!”

“I-” Eidolon’s mask turned away. “You’re right. Sorry. I just…”

“I’m frustrated too,” Alexandria said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “We worked so hard, fought so long, lost so much…and Raiden continues to sit in her ivory tower, while this Venti seems like a clown. But if he can help…perhaps he’s a better alternative than the literal Nazis.”

“You’re right,” Eidolon said, shaking his head. “If he can help more…but he’ll need to be tested.”

“Yes,” Alexandria agreed. “Which is what Keith will do. He’s not a fool, or blind. He has his pet projects, but he’s committed.”

“I…I’ll apologize later,” Eidolon said. Then his head snapped up, his hand going to his ear at the same time as a tone pinged in Alexandria’s.

Slaughterhouse Nine activity detected: Location, Houston, Texas.

“If it’s not one thing,” Alexandria said, grimacing. She reached up a hand to touch her nose, and grimaced, forcing her hand down halfway. Sorry, Taylor. This is one thing I can do for you, for your father. “Want some help?”

“I can handle it,” Eidolon said, his hand glowing. He raised one, then glanced at Alexandria. “But…there’s nine of them, and even I don’t want to fight the Siberian alone.”

“Race you?” Alexandria asked, giving him a cheeky smile.

“Not the fucking time,” Eidolon said.

But he didn’t say no.

As they raced off, somewhere, beyond space, beyond time, a tesseract collapsed in upon itself, and a new being was born. It wasn’t awake, wasn’t alive. Not yet.

But it would be, soon.

And the time of Testing would begin anew.

Five years was a long time. Time for grass to grow, for shrubs and bushes to sprout, for most scars and wounds to heal.

Time, however, did not heal all wounds.

The blackened scar stretched for miles. The shattered shells of buildings could still be seen, but there was no movement within the graveyard that had once been a city, no life.

For the second time, Naomi watched an angel weep. She shed more than a few tears herself.

Capri was silent, braiding a wreath from dry grass, twigs, and fallen leaves. She went over and placed it amongst so many other memorials, at the base of a Star of David. Rebecca Cohen. A distant cousin of Naomi’s, perhaps? She couldn’t remember.

“How did it happen?” Venti asked, drying his tears. “I’ve heard things, read things, but…you would have seen it happen live. On television, at least.”

“We were in Breman, at a music festival,” Naomi said quietly. She shook her head. “Not Capri and I. My…my family and I. We were in Fiddler on the Roof. I was playing Chava, my mother was Yente, and my father was the producer. One of my first starring roles…opening night was the next day. We were asleep when…when it happened.”

“I was in Munich, working odd jobs, already having left my family,” Capri said, her eyes distant. “Working the morning shift waiting tables at a diner. It started before I got in for my shift, but my boss had the TV on, and…”

“The Mächtige were fighting, Brunhilda and Beowulf were leading them. The Americans were on their way,” Naomi continued. “Behemoth hadn’t made it into the city yet. People were evacuating, but the heroes were holding the line. But then…”

“Beowulf and Brunhilda hit Behemoth together. She had some sort of sonic-based powers, he was a brute with a giant sword. For a moment, it looked like Behemoth was down, that they’d done it, before the PRT even showed up,” Capri said with a slow shake of her head. “The Endbringer was down in the dirt, they were standing over him, there was smoke and debris, people thought the city was saved.”

Feeling sick, Naomi made herself continue. “Then…it was like a volcano erupting, or a bomb going off. Beowulf and Brunhilda…all of the Mächtige…they were dead.”

“The bastard burrowed. People were stunned, the best capes in Germany were down, but they’d sacrificed themselves to drive Behemoth off, and the city was spared. That’s what we all thought, for about five minutes,” Capri said, hanging her head. She pointed. “You see that cindercone? That’s where he came up.”

The mound of volcanic glass was only about 20 meters tall and twice that wide, but it was clearly visible, even beyond the Exclusion Zone. All structures near it had been reduced to ash.

“For half an hour, Behemoth raged, unchecked, unopposed,” Naomi whimpered, and Capri put an arm around her, squeezing as the tears flowed down both their cheeks. “Then the Americans came, and so did the Mousquetaires. They fought all day. It wasn’t until nearly sunset that Scion came and drove off Behemoth. That was too late for Cologne.”

“Before the attack, it was a city of nearly a million. After…after there were only about 250,000 survivors. More than half died of cancer within three years,” Capri rasped, her voice raw, and Naomi hugged her as tightly as she could. “I don’t even know how many are left. The place still glows at night.”

“That was…that was when things started to get bad,” Naomi said, wiping her eyes. “The loss of life was horrific, but…but it had been the Heroes, the good capes, who were all killed. There were almost no German heroes left. Just a few villains.”

“People were scared shitless. Hopeless. The economy collapsed, and the value of the mark jumped off a fucking cliff. Refugees everywhere. Villains running rampant, killing people every day. The Blasphemies killed two Prime Ministers in a month. And then those fuckers showed up.”

“The Land and Social Labor Reform Party?” Venti asked quietly.

“The Gesellschaft first,” Naomi said with a shake of her head. “They had capes. Strong capes. At first, even I cheered them…”

“Don’t feel bad, so did I. They were beating villains left and right. Cleaning up crime. Then came the fuckers in the LSLRP. And when they started winning elections, the masks came off, and we realized we’d traded one kind of monster for another,” Capri growled.

Venti nodded slowly. “These Endbringers…no one knows where they come from, do they?”

“They just showed up one day. Behemoth by burning half of Iran’s oil rigs to the fucking ground, Leviathan by destroying Oslo. Then that angel-looking bitch in Davao last year.”

“December 13th, 1992, Marun Field. June 9th, 1996, Oslo,” Naomi confirmed. “At first it was just Behemoth every seven months. Then, two, every five. We thought the Lord had been merciful when Raiden killed Leviathan at Nagasaki, but…”

“But then the Simurgh turned Davao into a charnel house,” Capri sighed. She was shaking slightly and broke her embrace with Naomi to turn to Venit. “Why…why didn’t you come for us then, like she did then?”

Venti was quiet for a long moment, looking out at the irradiated graveyard that had once been the fourth-largest city in Germany. When he spoke, his voice was raw with pain. “I don’t know. This reminds me…well. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a city destroyed, its population cursed, and its very ground turned to poison. But I told myself something then, and I’ll repeat it now.”

When Venti turned to meet Naomi and Capri’s eyes, his face was tranquil, but his eyes were green storms. “Never. Again.”

Naomi hiccuped but nodded quickly. Capri was slower, but she nodded as well. “Alright. I wasn’t sure where you wanted to go after MEX, but I wasn’t expecting this. I thought you wanted to stop the Nazis, but…”

“To understand why people turn to hate, you have to understand what they fear,” Venti said, shaking his head. “And this…this was truly something to fear. I can’t…how could any god…? Well. It doesn’t matter. I’m here now.”

“What if…what if they attack somewhere else?” Naomi asked, her tone filled with pain. “Somewhere…somewhere like…” She couldn’t say Tel Aviv. But it was what her heart meant. She didn’t get along with her mother at all, never even spoke to her, and rarely with her father.

“If it’s in Central Europe, I can do something,” Venti sighed. He looked troubled though. “I can’t be the Archon of all the world. Raiden is right about that. I’ll try to extend my wings to shelter more than just Germany, but…we are tied to a land. A people. If I stretch myself too far, I won’t be able to protect anyone.”

“Is that why Raiden told the world they could go fuck themselves?” Capri demanded bluntly.

Venti tilted his hand from side to side. “A bit. She’s always been withdrawn, but after the death of her sister, the original Electro Archon-”

“Wait, what?” Naomi said, blinking in shock. “She’s not the original?”

“A story for another time,” Venti said with a dismissive shake of his head. But regardless…you saw me with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, the one you call Scion, yes?”

“Considering you went full god mode for that, we’d be pretty damn stupid to not have,” Capri chuckled darkly. “What was up with that? You never said.”

Thinking back, Naomi nodded. Venti had acted like the world’s greatest hero was a complete monster, trying to shield them. “Venti…what aren’t you telling us?”

“All kinds of things! Like the fact that you snore,” Venti said with a wink.

Naomi blushed, while Capri said in a sing-song tone, “I told you so!”

“That’s not- don’t change the subject!” Naomi sputtered. “Scion, who is he?”

“Not what he seems,” Venti said, his expression suddenly serious. “And he is why I dare not use my powers beyond my territory. I’m going to try to claim most of the Holy Roman Empire as my own territory, but-”

“The entire Holy Roman Empire?!” Naomi gasped, though Capri looked confused. “But that’s…that’s most of Central Europe! Not just Germany, but Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, parts of Italy and France, it was huge!”

“You’re going to, what, take over the EU?” Capri asked. “Become king or something?”

At that, Venti looked mortally offended. “Do you really know me so poorly?”

“I hope not, because while I like you and all, Venti, you’d be a shit king,” Capri said bluntly. “Better than some of our current politicians, but still. No way. It’d be bar parties every night and hangover naps in the mornings, and wipe that smirk off your face. Don’t even think about trying to implement that! It’d be me and Cookie cleaning up after you all the damn time!”

As Venti pantomimed wiping his face clean of the smirk, Naomi asked, “You don’t though, right? When you say your territory…what do you mean?”

Venti shrugged, turning to look behind them at the sky, filled with wispy clouds. “Just that I’d look out for those places. I can’t look out for the whole world, but I’ll try to bring freedom and prosperity to as many lands as I can. To counteract…well. Scion. And his Endbringers.”

The bottom dropped out of Naomi’s stomach, and she let out a horrified gasp. “No…no! It can’t be!”

“Scion’s Endbringers!? Are you fucking crazy!? He fights those things, he didn’t— he doesn't…but how...he…” Capri fell silent, looking as terrified and confused as Naomi felt.

“I haven’t seen one myself yet, but from what Raiden let slip, and from what I’ve seen here…only the power of Celestia could cause devastation like this. And Scion…he’s not quite of Celestia, but…he’s certainly behind Parahumans, and the Endbringers are made of the same thing as those parasites that are sucking on people’s souls,” Venti said with a shake of his head. “This isn’t something we can talk about. Any hint of defiance, of rebellion, and, well…”

He pointed to Cologne, and Naomi turned, her eyes going wide with horror. “But…why? Why act like a hero, but allow all this…”

“I don’t know. But I won’t allow it to happen here again,” Venti said quietly. Then he spun about. “Right! Well, this was depressing! I need a drink! And, a new plan! On to Frankfurt! We’ll stop for lunch along the way! We still have all that money for my cards, right?”

“Yes, though Cookie did promise to give them back,” Naomi agreed, brightening. “I know some wonderful restaurants in Frankfurt!”

“We’re not eating at a damn five-star joint. That cash has gotta last. I cannot BELIEVE you let her take you for a ride like that! That shit was from another world, it was worth millions!” Capri groused as they headed back to their van.

“She said she’d pay more later,” Naomi said, cringing.

“More my ass. If I had known…oooo! That bitch,” Capri grumbled, stalking forward. “The next time I see her…”

“It’s fine! As long as people get to play together and have fun, a little money isn’t important,” Venti said with a shrug.

“Worst. God. Ever,” Capri said through gritted teeth as they got in. “Put on your damn seatbelts!”

As they drove off, Capri muttering darkly about missed financial opportunities, Naomi turned, looking at the bones of the ruined city. She glanced at Venti, and though he was laughing and bantering with Capri, his eyes were distant and sad.

Never again.

That was a promise she could fight for.

Author’s Note:

The rise of the Gesellschaft in Germany on Earth Bet was never explained, nor do we know what happened in Cologne. I needed to construct a scenario that would explain why an entire nation that had dedicated 50 years to de-nazifcation would suddenly turn it’s back on all that. So, this is what I came up with. All the heroes were dead, and Cauldron swoops in with their vials. And who do they give them to? The Nazis.